Design and optimization of a nano-antenna hybrid structure for solar energy harvesting application

A novel hybrid structure with high responsivity and efficiency is proposed based on an L-shaped frame nano-antenna (LSFNA) array for solar energy harvesting application. So, two types of LSFNAs are designed and optimized to enhance the harvesting characteristics of traditional simple electric dipole nano-antenna (SEDNA). The LSFNA geometrical dimensions are optimized to have the best values for the required input impedance at three resonance wavelengths of λ_res = 10 μm, 15 μm, and 20 μm. Then the LSFNAs with three different sizes are modeled like a planar spiral-shaped array (PSSA). Also, a fractal bowtie nano-antenna is connected with the PSSA in the array gap. This proposed hybrid structure consists of two main elements: (I) Three different sizes of the LSFNAs with two different material types are designed based on the thin-film metal-insulator-metal diodes that are a proper method for infrared energy harvesting. (Ⅱ) The PSSA gap is designed based on the electron field emission proposed by the Fowler-Nordheim theory for the array rectification. Finally, the proposed device is analyzed. The results show that the PSSA not only has an averaged 3-time enhancement in the harvesting characteristics (such as return loss, harvesting efficiency, etc.) than the previously proposed structures but also is a multi-resonance wide-band device. Furthermore, the proposed antenna takes up less space in the electronic circuit and has an easy implementation process.